Dimapur, Feb. 19 (EMN): Director of Peace Channel, Fr. CP Anto, expounded that peace education in the educational institutions could end all forms of violence and conflicts in the families, schools and communities and promotes values and skills for living in the society.
Fr. CP Anto stated this while speaking at the induction programme of new peace club members of Assisi Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, on February 18. He has stressed on the importance of peace education in the multi-cultural, religious and linguistic communities of Nagaland.
He stated that peace always begins with self which in turn transmits to others by following certain universal values and principles suggested by the movement. He encouraged the students to be messengers of peace wherever there is misunderstanding, quarrel, unhealthy arguments, fight, conflict etc.
He also spoke about the importance of self-starter rather than be kick starters. He said peace club members should always be a self-starter, who are ready to take initiative to study better, lead the group, volunteering for service, helping the needy and resolving small conflicts at the early stages of schooling. According to him, it would enable the students to easily cope up with difficult situations in future.
He added that all club members are capacitated on problem solving skill, non-violent communication, leadership skill, personality development etc. Also emphasising on impact of peace education programmes, he said it is centred on conflict resolution by focussing on the social behavioural symptoms of conflict, training individuals to resolve inter-personal disputes through techniques of negotiation and peer mediation.
According to him the programmes would help individuals to manage anger, fight fair and improve communication through skills and different capacity building programmes. The programme also emphasises on the personal responsibility of the students to show respect to all kinds of life, develop a healthy self-image, build trust with others, promote social growth and address the suffering in the world while learning compassion and empathy.
He also stated that the programme would help students to recognise many forms and causes of violence and conflict and to promote values and skills for living in the society.
In conclusion, he encouraged the peace club members to learn something new every day, relearn things that would helped them to grow as peace lovers and unlearn certain things which are not healthy. He asked all the students to start practicing forgiveness saying it is the first step towards making peace.
The new club members took peace pledge to be peace lovers, peace makers and peace promoters wherever they are.
The programme was chaired by Ms Kisuilei, while the welcome address was delivered by Sr. Judith Eliz Pinto, and the vote of thanks was pronounced by Seyikhreto. The programme concluded with singing of peace anthem. Later, Ms Apong, Peace Channel district coordinator, trained the students on capacity building.
